Part 12

AS to what _Polydore_ says, he is not so confident to ascertain the Person whose Garter it was; but cautiously declining that, says, it was either the Queen’s, or the King’s Mistress’s; and if it were the latter, yet doth he omit her Name and Title, both which (on what Authority we find not) are supplied by modern Historians, who call her _Joan_ Countess of _Salisbury_, the same elsewhere celebrated by the Name of the _Fair Maid_ of _Kent_, (whom _Edward_ the Black Prince, afterward married) whereas no Historian ever gave the least Inuendo that King _Edward_ III. ever courted her as a Mistress. _Selden_ points at her when he calls the Lady, from whom the Garter slipp’d, Countess of _Kent_ and _Salisbury_: But about the Time when this Order was founded she in truth was dignified with neither Honour; for altho’ she was Daughter to _Tho._ of _Woodstock_, Earl of _Kent_, and had been sometime the reputed Wife of _William Mountague_, second Earl of _Salisbury_, yet then she cou’d not properly be accounted Countess of _Salisbury_. She was actually Wife to Sir _Thomas Holland_, (one of the First Founders of the Order.) Nor was she yet (tho’ afterwards) Countess of Kent, because her Brother _John_ Earl of _Kent_, at the Institution of this Order, survived, and died not till 26 _Edw._ III.

THAT there was a Countess of _Salisbury_ with whom King _Edward_ III. became greatly enamour’d, _Froissart_ reports after this manner, _That this King having relieved a Castle of that Earl’s in the North, wherein his Countess had been besieged by the_ Scots (_the Earl himself being at that time Prisoner in_ France;) _upon sight of her extraordinary Beauty he fell in love with her; but she so virtuously demeaned her self, during his Abode there, that he declined further Solicitation_. However, some time after, the King out of Desire to see her, proclaim’d solemn Justs in _London_, whither this Countess and other Ladies being invited, came up. This Castle it seems was _Wark_ upon _Tweed_ in _Northumberland_, which King _Edward_ had formerly bestowed on her Husband, for his good Service past, when he first espoused her, being then but a Knight.

ALTHO’ it should be admitted that this Countess of _Salisbury_ was the King’s Mistress, yet must it be remark’d, That she was Wife to _William Mountague_, Kt. created Earl of _Salisbury_, _Anno_ 11 _Edw._ III. Mother to _William_ the before-mention’d second Earl, that her Christian Name was _Catherine_, not _Alice_, as _Froissart_, not _Joan_, as others call her, Daughter to _William_ Lord _Granston_, and that she expired 28 _Edw._ III. But that the whole may appear, what indeed it is, a meer Fable, we shall insert the Judgment of Dr. _Heylin_, who took great Pains in this Particular. _This_, says he, _I take to be a vain and idle Romance, derogatory both to the Founder and the Order first published by_ Pol. Virgil, _a Stranger to the Affairs of_ England, _and by him taken upon no better ground than_ Fama Vulgi, _the Tradition of the common People, too trifling a Foundation to so great a Building_.

OF the same Contexture with the former is another Tradition in _Andrew du Chesne_, _That the Queen departing from the King to her own Apartments, and he following soon after, chanced to espy a Blue Garter lying on the Ground (supposed to have slipp’d from her Leg) whilst some of his Attendants carelesly passed by it, as disdaining to stoop at such a Trifle; but he knowing the Owner, commanded it to be given him; at the Receipt of which he said, You make but small account of this Garter; but within few Months, I’ll cause the best of you all to reverence it alike_. Some suppose that the Motto was the Queen’s Answer, when the King asked her, _What Men would conjecture of her, upon her losing her Garter in such a manner?_

BOTH Relations are far distant from Fact; nevertheless it has thus far’d with other Orders of Sovereign Foundation, and an amorous, instead of an honourable Account, has been falsly render’d of their Institution; as for Instance, _The Order of the_ Annunciade, and that of _The Golden Fleece_.

THERE is a third Opinion grounded on a Relation made of King _Rich._ I. who, whilst his Forces were employ’d against _Cyprus_ and _Acon_, and extremely tir’d and harrass’d with the Siege, he, by the Assistance and Mediation of St. _George_ (as imagin’d) was inspir’d with fresh Courage, and bethought himself of a new Device, which was to tie about the Legs of a Number of Knights, a Leathern Thong Garter, for such had he then at hand, whereby they being emulated to future Glory, with Assurance of Reward if they prov’d victorious, they might be excited to behave themselves intrepidly and well, much after the Examples of the old _Romans_, among whom were distributed various Crowns for several Causes, to adorn the Soldiers: But if King _Richard_ I. did make use of this Device in the _Holy Land_, as a Signal or Mark of Distinction of a Party, upon some warlike Exploit, yet that he took Occasion to create a distinct Order of Knighthood thereupon, there is not sufficient warrant to believe; (for it is only put down in the Preface of the _Black Book_, but not in any Part of the Annals of the Order; nor can it plead higher Antiquity than the Reign of King _Hen._ VIII. when written.) All the Advantage that can be made of it, is, to heighten the Reputation of that Saint among the _English_, by which Means the Garter came to be dedicated to him, and not that it contributed to its Institution.

§ 2. THE true Motive was therefore, neither the Ladies Garter, or King _Richard_’s Leathern Thong, that it owes it Original to: But King _Edward_, being a Person of consummate Vertue, gave himself up to military Affairs; and being engag’d in War for recovering his Right to _France_, made use of the best Martialists of the Age, did thereupon first design (induc’d by its ancient Fame) the Restoration of King _Arthur_’s _Round Table_, to invite hither the Gallant Spirits from abroad, and endear them to himself; and adjudging no Place more requisite than _Windsor_, upon _New-Year’s-Day_, _A. D._ 1344. he issu’d out Letters of Protection for the safe going and return of Foreign Knights, to try their Valour at the Solemn Justs to be held there on _Monday_ after the Feast of St. _Hilary_ following (which happen’d _Jan._ 19.) And these Letters of Safe-Conduct continu’d in force until the _Octaves_ of the Purification of our blessed Virgin ensuing, being the 18th Year of his Reign. At the Time appointed, he provided a great Supper to begin the Solemnity, and then ordain’d this Festival to be annually at _Whitsontide_; and immediately after these first Exercises were over, for a future and better Accommodation, he impress’d Workmen and Carriages for erecting a particular Building in the Castle, and therein plac’d a Table of Two Hundred Foot Diameter, where the Knights should have their Entertainment of Diet, at his Expence of 100 _l._ _per_ Week; to which Building he gave the Name of _The Round Table_. And as at these great Conventions the Days were spent in all Kinds of noble Feats of Arms, Justs and Turnaments, so were a great Part of the Nights consum’d in publick Balls and dancing with the Ladies that attended the Queen thither; and perhaps it was hence conjectur’d, that at some of these Balls the Queen’s Garter, or the Garter of _Catherine_, Countess of _Salisbury_, might slip off, and the King’s taking it up occasion Smiles in the Bystanders; and afterwards, when the King had modell’d his intended Order, a Garter offering it self for its chief Ensign, might add to the Conjecture; but that it was the principal Cause, is a groundless Imagination. And tho’ King _Edward_ advanc’d the Honour of the Garter, as to denominate the Order, yet was it not to enhance Reputation to, or perpetuate an effeminate Occasion, but to adorn Martial Prowess, with Honours, Rewards and Splendor; to increase Vertue and Valour in the Hearts of his Nobility, that so true Worth, after long and hazardous Exploits, should not enviously be depriv’d of that Glory which it hath intrinsically deserv’d, and that active and hardy Youths might not want a Spur in their Progression in the Paths of Vertue, which is to be esteem’d glorious and eternal.

IT is further observable, that the _French_ King, _Philip de Valoys_, in Emulation of this Seminary at _Windsor_, set up a _Round Table_ at his Court, and invited Knights and valiant Men of Arms out of _Italy_ and _Almaine_ thither, lest they should repair to our King _Edward_ III. which meeting with Success, prov’d a Countermine to his main Design; who perceiving that his Hospitality towards strange Knights, upon Account of reviving King _Arthur_’s _Round Table_ was too general, nor did sufficiently ingratiate them to his Person, but being unconstrain’d and at Liberty, did after their Departure take what Side they pleas’d in the ensuing Wars, he at length resolv’d upon a Projection more particular and select, and such as might oblige those whom he thought fit to make his Associates, in a lasting Bond of Friendship and Honour: And having issu’d forth his own Garter for the Signal of a Battle, that was crown’d with Success, (which is conceiv’d to be the Battle of _Cressy_, fought about Three Years after his erecting the _Round Table_;) upon so remarkable a Victory, he thence took Occasion to institute this Order, and gave the Garter Preheminence among the Ensigns of it, whence that select Number, whom he incorporated into a Fraternity, are styl’d _Equites Aureæ Periscelidis_, and vulgarly _Knights of the Garter_. By this Symbol he design’d to bind the Knights and Fellows of it mutually unto one another, and all of them joyntly to himself, as Sovereign of the Order; nor was his Expectation frustrated, for it did not serve only as a vehement Spur and Incentive to Honour and martial Vertue, but also as a golden Bond of Unity and internal Society; and for this Consideration _Cambden_ aptly calls it a Badge of Unity and Concord.

BY the Symbols of this Garter the Knights are reminded, with all Religiousness, Sincerity, Friendliness, Faithfulness and Dexterity, not to leave the Pursuit of whatsoever they take in hand, nor to enterprize any Thing contrary to the Statutes of the Order; neither to frustrate the Rights of Peace and Friendship, nor vilify the Law of Arms, or proceed in any Thing farther than Faith and Compact, or the Bond of Friendship will admit. Moreover, in the binding of the Leg with this enobled Ensign, there was given this Caveat and Exhortation, that the Knights should not pusillanimously (by running away from Battle) betray the Valour and Renown which is ingrafted in Constancy and Magnanimity. Nay, so exactly did the Founder contrive the whole Habit into the Signification of the Garter, that he ordain’d his and the Knights-Companions Robes and Ornaments to be all alike, both for Materials and Fashion, intimating thereby, That they ought to conserve brotherly Affection among themselves. The great Collar of the Order was made of equal Weight, and like Number of Knots and Links, in Token of the like Bond of Faith, Peace and Amity inviolably to be observ’d and retain’d amongst them: In fine, all Things were so design’d, that every one might plainly perceive how much these Things tended to the Maintenance of Amity and Concord.

IN further reference to the establishing this Order, the aforesaid King calling together the Earls, Barons, and principal Knights of his Kingdom, _Freely_, says _Froissart_, _and obligingly declar’d his Mind to them concerning this Affair_: To which _all of them being well inclin’d, entertain’d the Motion with equal Joy and Applause, deeming it would prove a very great Advancement to Piety, Nobility and Vertue, and likewise an excellent Expedient for the uniting not only his Subjects one with another, but all Foreigners conjunctively with them, in the Bonds of Amity and Peace_. And ’tis very improbable the prudent Founder should summon his Nobles to consult about the Grandeur of an Order, that had taken its Rise from so slight an Occasion as the dropping of a Garter from a Lady’s Leg. Now, to draw the Tye of Friendship more close, the King caused those who were (or should be) of the Order, to be call’d _Fellows_, _Associates_, _Colleagues_, _Brethren_, and _Knights-Companions_, and the Order it self a _Society_, _Fellowship_, _College of Knights_, and _Knight-Companionship_; and their Habits to be all alike, to represent how they ought to be united in all Chances and various Turns of Fortune; Co-partners both in Peace and War, assistant to one another in all serious and dangerous Exploits; and thro’ the whole Course of their Lives to shew Fidelity and Friendliness one towards another. There are other Reasons assign’d, much to the same Effect, That the Order was instituted _to fortifie the Confidence of the King, the Kingdom and Martial Vertue_; that is to say, _to strengthen the Faith of the Subjects towards them, and for their greater Security_, and _because the Garter carries with it a Bond or Tye of Fellowship, and is a Symbol of Amity between Princes, being Companions of the same Order_.

IN the last Place, if we look upon the Statutes of its Institution, we shall find the Injunctions wholly Military, and so are the Words of Admonition pronounc’d at the putting on the Ensigns of the Order: And the Ground of the Institution (in the Preamble to King _Henry_ VIII’s _Exemplar_) is said to be _for the Honour of God and Exaltation of the Catholick Faith, joyn’d both with Piety and Charity, in establishing a College of religious Men to pray for the Prosperity of the Sovereign of the Order and the Knights-Companions, and to perform other holy Duties_; as also _ordaining a Maintenance for a Company of Alms-Knights, who have not otherwise wherewith to support themselves_; but not one Word relating to the Engagement on behalf of the feminine Sex.

AND whereas King _Edw._ III. had laid Claim by his Title to the Kingdom of _France_, and in Right thereof assum’d its Arms, he from the Colour of them, ’tis said, caus’d the Garter to be made Blue, and the Circumscription Gold: And it may, without straining, be inferr’d from the Motto, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_, that he retorted Shame and Defiance upon him that should dare to think amiss of so just an Enterprize, as he had undertaken for recovering of his lawful Right to that Crown; and that the Magnanimity and Bravery of those Knights, whom he had elected into this Order, was such as would impower and enable them to maintain the Quarrel against all who thought ill of it. Consonant to this is the Conjecture of _Harpsfield_, that this Apophthegm was design’d to put the Knights-Companions in mind, _Not to admit any Thing in their Actions, or among their Thoughts, derogatory to themselves and their Honour_.

THAT Age did exceedingly abound with Impresses, Motto’s and Devices, and particularly King _Edw._ III. was so excessively given up to them, that his Apparel, Plate, Bed, Houshold-Furniture, Shields, and even the Harness of his Horses, and the like, were not without them, many of which now to descant upon would be a fruitless Attempt, seeing the Occasion of the Invention, and the Circumstances are lost, that should illustrate them; and others, by reason of their Brevity, seem’d insignificant, in regard something was designedly omitted, and left to be understood, which cannot now be rightly supply’d, so as to arrive at the Mind of the Inventor. Of this Number may be this Motto, _It is as it is_, which was embroider’d upon a Doublet of that King; tho’ there are others which seem more easy to be decypher’d; as that daring Motto wrought upon his Surcoat and Shield provided to be used at a Turnament,

#Hay, Hay, the Wythe Swan; By God’s Soul I am the Man.#

§ 3. THE Time when the Order was instituted, Historians differ widely about; _Selden_, _Cowper_, and others, from _Froissart_ (who wrote _temp. Rich._ II.) would have it in the 18th of King _Edw._ III. But since _Froissart_ errs, in making the Number of Knights-Companions no fewer than Forty, which is a grand Mistake, Why might not he trip in Point of Time, and confound the Year of its Erection, with that wherein the Founder renew’d the Order of _The Round Table_, _Windsor_ being the Place for both. For should we admit, that during some Part of the Solemnity held in this King’s 18th Year, when the Accident of the Lady’s Garter slipping off happen’d, what other Inference can be made, but that he had only an Intention to put in Execution somewhat afterwards? Not that an Order was actually erected at that Time: Besides, the Jollity of the Season, the Greatness of the Concourse, and the Splendidness of the Festivity, it was too busy a Time to suffer much Consultation tending thereunto; or at least to mould and model a Design so compleat and substantial, as it appears to have been even at first. If we joyn _Fabian_, he is plain, that tho’ the King design’d the Institution at the End of the Festival, (which he places between _Candlemas_ and _Lent_, in the 19th, and not 18th Year of that King) _Yet was it not then_, saith he, _but afterwards establish’d by him_. Nevertheless, Mr. _Selden_ elsewhere observes, it had its Original in the 24th Year of the said King. And our industrious _Stow_ (with whom _Lily_, _Speed_, and _Segar_ agree) tells us, _That the first Feast of the Order was celebrated_ A. D. 1350. which exactly agrees to the 24th of _Edward_ III. But _Polydore Virgil_ places it after the 25th of _Edward_ III. We must therefore have recourse to some other Proofs for elucidating this Point, since this Chronological _Æra_ of the true Time of its Institution hath wonderfully slipp’d the Pens of all Writers.

ADMITTING then that the erecting this Order was first thought of by King _Edward_, at some of those grand Assemblies of _The Round Table_, held after the _French_ King had set up the like; yet was it not mature, or brought to any Perfection, till after his glorious Victories and Triumphs over the _French_ and _Scots_ in the Battles of _Cressy_ and _Nevil_’s Cross, (in the last of which the _Scotch_ King, _David_, was taken Prisoner) and until King _Edward_ had _Calais_ surrendred to him, as will appear very conspicuous.

AMONG the Rolls of the Great Wardrobe, is one containing the Account of all the King’s Liveries, from _Michaelmas Anno_ 21, to the 31st of _Jan._ 23 _Edw._ III. In the same are divers Things mention’d to be adorn’d with Garters, which were provided against the first grand Feast of St. _George_; and among the rest, the Royal Robes, _viz._ his Mantle, Surcoat and Hood; likewise a Bed of Blue Taffaty was bedeck’d with Garters, containing the Motto, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_. There were made for the Sovereign Three Harnesses, whereof Two were of White Velvet, wrought over with Garters _de blu & diaspris per totum compedmein cum Woodhouses_; and the Third _de Velvetto Ynde cont. Lappekin quisseux & caligas_, wrought over likewise with Garters. Had the Roll been divided into Years, or had distinguishing Marks of Time upon it, we might have been guided with more Certainty as to the true Year of the Institution. However, we may thence conclude it was not founded in the 18th of _Edw._ III. because that the Sovereign’s Robes were not made until the 22d Year of his Reign at soonest; perhaps not till the Beginning of the 23d. But to put the Matter beyond dispute, the Founder’s Statutes fix the Time of Institution to his 23d Year; so do the Statutes of King _Henry_ V. and the Preface to the _Black Book_, _Leland_, _Mills_ and Dr. _Heylin_. To conclude, when he had fix’d upon the Day and Place for celebrating the first grand Feast of this Order, he sent his Heralds into _Germany_, _France_, _Scotland_, _Burgundy_, _Hainault_, _Flanders_ and _Brabant_, to invite all Knights and Esquires, (with Assurance of Safe-Conduct and Liberty for Fifteen Days, both before and after the grand Solemnity) to shew their military Prowess and other publick Exercises there to be perform’d, proper to the Place and Occasion; agreeable to which Invitation, sundry Knights and Gallant Men came over to signalize their Valour; and what made the Solemnity more glorious, King _Edward_’s Queen was there present, attended with Three Hundred of the fairest Ladies, in all imaginable Splendor and Gaity.

§ 4. THE Patrons of the Order were several, under whose Protection (according to the Custom of the Age) King _Edw._ III. put himself and all the Knights-Companions, that the Affairs of the Order might be defended, preserved and govern’d.

THE _first_ and chiefest which he elected, was the _Holy Trinity_, which in a more especial Manner was invocated to the Aid and Assistance of this Order.

_Secondly_, King _Edward_ III. intitled peculiarly the _blessed Virgin_ Mary, accounted then the general Mediatrix and Protectress of all Men; unto whom King _Edward_ IV. was so strictly devoted, that he thought some additional Ceremonies requisite to her farther Honour, and thereupon ordain’d, that on her Five Solemnities the Knights Companions should annually (as accustom’d on the Feast of St. _George_) wear the Habit of the Order as long as Divine Service was celebrating, (unless they had sufficient Cause of excuse) bearing on the right Shoulders of their Robes a golden Figure of the Virgin _Mary_; and that they should go in the same Manner and Habit upon all _Sundays_ throughout the Year; and lastly, that on the same Days for ever they should say Five _Pater Nosters_, with as many _Ave Maria’s_.

_Thirdly_, St. _George_ of _Cappadocia_, a most choice Champion of Christ and famous Martyr, was also elected one of the Patrons to this Order by King _Edward_ III. not so much as he was a Professor of the Christian Faith, or for that he was an armed Soldier or Knight of Christ, but so much the more because in those Wars, which were waged by the Christians against the Infidels, he by several Appearances manifested his Presence as a most certain Encourager and Assistant to the Christians; the Relations whereof may be seen in Dr. _Heylin_’s History, who hath laboriously and judiciously maintain’d the History of this Saint, against those that will not allow him a Place in Heaven, or a Being in the Church. In like manner the learned _Selden_ hath avouch’d him to be the special Patron, Protector, Defender, and Advocate of this Realm of _England_; and has made it plainly appear in what Veneration he hath been honour’d abroad, especially among the Eastern Nations. To whose corroborating Testimonies we shall add, That this Title of Patron to our Nation, as given to St. _George_ by the Founder of this Order, in a Patent granted to the Dean and Canons of the Chapel of St. _Stephen_ at _Westminster_, and St. _George_ at _Windsor_, which dischargeth them from Payment of Tythes; as also by King _Henry_ VIII. in the Preamble of his Statutes. And tho’ in general he is styl’d the Principal Patron of the Affairs of _Christendom_, and a tutelar Guardian of military Men, yet among all Christians the _English_ did excel; and in this Nation the Founder of this Order, in making choice of such an approv’d expert Captain and Patron, in particular Respect of whom the Knights had the Title of _Equites Georgiani_, St. _George_’s Knights, and the Order it self came to be call’d the _Ordo Divi Sancti Georgii_, The Order of St. _George_.